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Drs. Caranasos, Vavalle and Yeung discuss valve replacement on “Your Health”

May 7, 2015

Thomas Caranasos, M.D. Thomas Caranasos, M.D., John Vavalle, M.D., and Michael Yeung, M.D., were on the WCHL radio show “Your Health” in April to talk about UNC’s Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) program, which helps people who are too frail to undergo open heart surgery for valve replacement. Listen to the podcast here. Read more … Read more

Paul T. Frantz, M.D., to deliver first Starek Lecture on May 13

April 22, 2015

Paul T. Frantz, M.D. Peter J.K. Starek, M.D. April 22, 2015 Paul T. Frantz, M.D., a heart surgeon, will speak at UNC Surgery Grand Rounds on May 13 as the first Peter J.K. Starek M.D. Visiting Professor in Cardiothoracic Surgery at UNC. Dr. Frantz’s topic is “Challenges, complexities and compromises: Welcome to the new world.” … Read more

UNC’s first TAVR patient cheers for the Heels after successful valve procedure

March 11, 2015

  UNC’s TAVR team, left to right: Interventional cardiologists Michael Yeung, MD, and John Vavalle, MD, MHS; nurse coordinator Cassie Ramm, RN, BSN; cardiothoracic surgeons Thomas Caranasos, MD, and Andy Kiser, MD. In November 2014, Jim Aspell of Durham became the first patient at UNC Hospitals to receive a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a … Read more

Dr. Kiser is appointed as Doxey Distinguished Professor

March 3, 2015

Andy C. Kiser, M.D. March 3, 2014 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has appointed Andy C. Kiser, M.D., as Byah Thomason-Sanford Doxey Distinguished Professor in the Department of Surgery, effective March 1, 2015. Dr. Kiser is chief of the UNC Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He provides cardiac surgery for adults at UNC … Read more

Two UNC Surgery residents win scholarships from Women in Thoracic Surgery

December 17, 2014

Sara Kim, M.D. Mansi Shah, M.D. Updated Jan. 21, 2015 Two UNC residents in General Surgery – Sara Kim, M.D., and Mansi Shah, M.D. – have won scholarships from Women in Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Kim is a graduate of the University of Florida School of Medicine and is in her second year of Surgery residency. … Read more

UNC TAVR program successfully performs its first valve procedure

December 15, 2014

  Thomas Caranasos, MD, Michael Yeung, MD, and John Vavalle, MD, perform the first TAVR procedure at UNC. Dec. 15, 2014 In November 2014, James Aspell of Durham became the first patient at UNC to receive a new heart valve using transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR. TAVR is a new technology that provides minimally-invasive … Read more

Dr. Nelson wins STSA award for paper on Ross Procedure outcomes

December 1, 2014

Jennifer S. Nelson, M.D., left, with STSA President Richard Prager, M.D. A study by Jennifer S. Nelson, M.D., of outcomes of children who had the Ross Procedure for aortic valve replacement received the Congenital Heart Surgery President’s Award during the annual meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, Nov. 5-8, 2014, in Tucson, AZ. The … Read more

Starek Visiting Professorship will honor distinguished cardiac surgeon

November 24, 2014

Peter J.K. Starek, M.D. Nov. 24, 2014 Peter J.K. Starek, M.D., was a valuable member of the faculty of the UNC Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery from 1971 until his retirement in 2002. He has been an international leader and researcher in the field of valve replacement and repair. At UNC, he was a tireless educator … Read more

Dr. Kiser speaks at EACTS on new aortic valve replacement procedure

November 18, 2014

Nov. 18, 2014 Andy C. Kiser, M.D., chief of the UNC Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, spoke at the recent meeting of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) on a suprasternal direct approach TAVR procedure that he developed. TAVR is transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a less invasive procedure for valve replacement that is aimed at … Read more